The road to the MVP Summit

So you look at this photo and think what a great time we had at the MVP Summit in Seattle some few weeks ago.

And you will be right! We indeed had some incredible time!
However, let me tell you a story. The story of how I, Martin Kulov(Microsoft Regional Director and Visual Studio MVP) and Boriana Petrova(Excel MVP) managed to get to Seattle. Here we go!

I got up at 4:45 to get to the airport for a flight from Sofia to Paris at 7 AM.

We met at the airport.

We took the flight and instead of departing at 7 we did at 7.30.

We had a connecting flight at Paris and we had one hour stop between we landed (if on time) and departing to Seattle.

We landed 35 minutes later then scheduled because of Bulgaria Air (already asked for compensation).

I ran as Usain Bolt but missed the flight to Seattle. Martin and Boriana did too.

We went to Air France to ask for another flight on the same day.

They told us all are full.

Only option was through Canada(but you need additional docs no one had) or on the next day.

We booked for the next day.

Interestingly enough when I went there she told me they had 2 more places for tomorrow, but later, she booked tickets for the three of us.

The lady from Air France also booked a hotel for us.

She also told us that Delta (they work in partnership) “never waits”.

We want on to search for our hotel.

We went to the IBIS hotel she told us to.

They told us we do not have a reservation.

They also told us there’s one other IBIS next to them and we should check there.

We went there and they told us our reservation is in the one we were previously.

We went back there and they said we are not there. We are at an IBIS for which we have to get a bus shuttle.

Martin and Boryana were sick and it was raining.

We found the shuttle and we went to the hotel.

We were not there either.

Turned out there is one more IBIS in the area so they told us to go there too.

We went there – noup. We were not there.

The guys at the 4th IBIS called someone. They confirmed – we do not have reservation.

We went back to the airport and tried to find Bulgaria Air at the Paris Airport.

We went to Information. It was closed. I took a photo of it.

We found another information booth and they told us to go to the one that was closed.

I showed them the photo. They were… shocked.

The lady at Information told us to go to Terminal 2E.

We took the shuttle.

Two stops later, a lady from the airport started screaming in French. We didn’t care.

Turned out someone left a bag on the next stop and so it was a bomb thread.

We wondered why wasn’t she talking in English. Cannot figure it out till today.

We waited.

We got back on the shuttle and arrived at 2E.

Asked there where Bulgaria Air are.

They pointed to a place. We went there. Bulgaria Air were not there.

We went back and explained – they were not there.

The lady called someone.

We then explained we had a hotel issue (let’s call it).

She called someone again. Told us to wait.

We waited for 40 minutes.

It’s now 5 hours since we missed our flight.

At some point she told me that our reservation at the first IBIS we were is now confirmed.

We told her we want official voucher and phone number.

She refused to give us because… it was confirmed.

I asked what’s about to happen if we get there again and we don’t have a reservation.

She went silent. Said it’s confirmed by the manager representing Bulgaria Air in Paris.

We went there and voila – we had a reservation.

We left our stuff and went to sleep.

Later on we went for a short sightseeing in Paris.

On the next morning we went at the airport at 8 AM, so we got breakfast at 6.

Our flight was delayed with 4 hours.

Again.

Delta told us – “Our equipment will be late.”

Whatever that means. (asked for compensation on this delay too)

We found a place and worked for 6 – 7 hours.

Boarded the Delta’s plane.

The air conditioning was not working.

We waited (Delta never waits) for 50 minutes at the gate.

Refueling.

We departed and landed in Seattle 10 hours later.

Welcome to the US! Hoooray!

Wait.

500 people and 2 people at border control?

We waited for almost 3 hours to get through border control!

Welcome to the best country in the world!

A friend of mine waited us 3 hours and got us to our hotels.

IT was around 7 PM on Monday.

We had to be there on 11 AM on Sunday.

How cool is that?

I spent 48 hours travelling in one direction.

Then I spent 48 hours in the US.

Then I spent 17 more hours of going back to Sofia.

That sums it up I think.

Why am I sharing it? Well, I really don’t know. I just believe that stories like this are sometimes fun. Hope you enjoyed our struggle! 😀

And oh by the way, if you were following me on Instagram, you may have been able to see that on video and as it was happening.